Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham Hotspur in the lurch. After crashing out of the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League, Spurs have now parted with their fourth permanent manager in four years and are fighting to stay in the top four.
Spurs fans will be scratching their heads as to what Conte has achieved at Spurs. After Mauricio Pochettino’s project, Jose Mourinho was meant to be the manager to finally get them some silverware. He ended up taking them further away the from club’s DNA in chairman Daniel Levy’s words. In steps Conte, another world-class manager, to try his hand at making Tottenham successful. Arguably he failed again, in the same vein as Mourinho.
Antonio Conte Leaves Tottenham Hotspur But What Did He Achieve?
Why is Cristian Stellini Staying at Spurs?
Cristian Stellini has become the new Acting Head Coach, with Ryan Mason as the Assistant Head Coach.
Daniel Levy said: “We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our Club and amazing, loyal supporters.”
Mason has already stepped in to temporarily manage Spurs, including the League Cup final in 2021. He has been on Conte’s coaching team since his arrival. Of course, Stellini has already deputised in Conte’s absence previously – some would argue to better success.
It is interesting that all of Conte’s staff remain except for Antonio and his brother, Gianluca. Stellini has been given Conte’s blessing to take the new role at Spurs. With three months remaining on Conte’s original contract, it seems to be a case of seeing the squad over the line. After all, Conte, Stellini and the rest of the backroom staff have been at the club for 16 months.
Fans will no doubt be questioning why Levy has not appointed a more permanent option straightaway. Maybe the answer is that Stellini and Mason at least know the squad well enough to get them over the line.
Read More: Who Will Spurs’ Next Permanent Manager Be?
What Conte Has Achieved at Tottenham
In short, Conte has not moved Spurs on. Conte’s reign is much like Mourinho’s in that there was a need to bend to their will. Tottenham have a history of playing attractive, attacking football, but this was only hampered again by Conte. He rigidly stuck to his systems and personnel and it was only when Stellini stepped in that Spurs looked like they were turning a corner.
But even that bright glimpse was fleeting.
Conte has no trophies to show for his efforts. The only highlight and credit he deserves is getting Spurs to the top four last season. He took over from Nuno’s shell-shocked squad and got the Lilywhites going again. Yes, the football at many points was torrid. But Conte did steer Spurs’ ship back on course to finish about Arsenal. Sadly Tottenham haven’t kicked on since last season, whereas their North London rivals have only gone from strength to strength.
Most recently, Conte’s Tottenham were dumped out of the FA Cup and then the Champions League both unceremoniously and with bitter disappointment in Spurs fans’ hearts. They might not have seen their team win the Champions League, but really going for the FA Cup or League Cup would have been worth going all out for.
After coming so close to glory in the Champions League final in 2019, silverware cannot feel further away from a Spurs perspective. But should Stellini and Mason have it in them to guide Tottenham to a top four finish, fans can at least imagine a new future under a permanent manager with new ideas.
Read More: 5 Best Strikers in the Premier League
Main Photo
